Product description

The Classical Greeks are renowned for their achievements in literature, art and philosophy, but the events of the Peloponnesian War reveal the darker side of Greek civilization. From the horrific effects of overcrowding and the plague on the population of Athens, to the vicious civil strife that often erupted in cities allied with Athens or Sparta, this volume offers vivid and at times disturbing insights into the impact of warfare on the people who are celebrated as the founders of Western civilization. It is a testament to the fascination of the subject that even today the events of the Peloponnesian war are studied for what they can teach about diplomacy, strategy and tactics.

Author information

Dr Philip de Souza FRHistS studied History and Classics at Royal Holloway College, London. He is the author of 'Piracy in the Graeco-Roman World' (Cambridge, 1999), plus numerous articles and essays on Greek and Roman history. He is a contributor to the forthcoming 'Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Warfare' and is currently finishing a book on Ancient Naval Warfare, to be published by Routledge. He is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Historical, Social and Cultural Studies at St Mary's College, University of Surrey, where he teaches ancient history, including a course on 'War and Society in the Ancient World'.

Review quote

"I am most favorably impressed by the Essential Histories series on the American Civil War. Written by four of the best historians of the military course of the war, these volumes provide a lucid and concise narrative of the campaigns in both the Eastern and Western theaters as well as penetrating analyses of strategies and leadership. Ideal for classroom use or fireside reading."

Table of contents

Introduction and Chronology - Background to war - Warring sides - Outbreak - The fighting - Portrait of a soldier - World around war - Portrait of a civilian - How the war ended - Conclusion and consequences